Merlin 2008
“Magic is his destiny.”
What is Merlin?
Merlin is a British fantasy-adventure drama television programme that premiered on BBC One. The series is loosely based on the Arthurian legends and follows the unlikely friendship between Merlin, a young man gifted with extraordinary magical powers, and Prince Arthur, heir to the crown of Camelot.
- Type
- TV series
- Year
- 2008
- Status
- Ended
- Episodes
- 65
- Runtime
- 43 minutes
- First aired
- Sep 20, 2008
- Last aired
- Dec 24, 2012
- Original language
- EN
- Origin
- GB
- Networks
- BBC One
- Genres
- Action & Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
- Updated
Where to watch
Buy
Stream
Stream
Stream
Free
With ads
Buy
Stream
Stream
Stream
Free
With ads
Buy
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How long to binge?
Estimate the schedule using 65 episodes and an average 43-minute runtime.
Trailer
Overview
Merlin is a British fantasy-adventure drama television programme that premiered on BBC One. The series is loosely based on the Arthurian legends and follows the unlikely friendship between Merlin, a young man gifted with extraordinary magical powers, and Prince Arthur, heir to the crown of Camelot. The programme was created by Julian Jones, Jake Michie, Johnny Capps, and Julian Murphy for the BBC. It stars Colin Morgan as Merlin and Bradley James as King Arthur Pendragon. The series consists of multiple episodes per series and was broadcast for five series. Merlin is also known as The Adventures of Merlin and features a medieval kingdom where magic is punishable by death. The show explores the relationship between Merlin and Prince Arthur as they navigate their roles in Camelot.
Should you watch it?
“A young warlock hides his magical gifts while serving the future king of a dangerous kingdom.”
- engaging character dynamics
- mythological setting
- high stakes danger
- period-specific constraints
Watch it if you enjoy reimagined legends featuring the origins of iconic characters.
The series depicts a world where the practice of magic is punishable by death.
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Cast
Episode guide
Season 1 · 13 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide →- E1 The Dragon's Call Sep 20, 2008
- E2 Valiant Sep 27, 2008
- E3 The Mark of Nimueh Oct 4, 2008
- E4 The Poisoned Chalice Oct 11, 2008
- E5 Lancelot Oct 18, 2008
- E6 A Remedy to Cure All Ills Oct 25, 2008
- E7 The Gates of Avalon Nov 1, 2008
- E8 The Beginning of the End Nov 8, 2008
- E9 Excalibur Nov 15, 2008
- E10 The Moment of Truth Nov 22, 2008
- E11 The Labyrinth of Gedref Nov 29, 2008
- E12 To Kill the King Dec 6, 2008
- E13 Le Morte d'Arthur Dec 13, 2008
Season 2 · 13 episodes
- E1 The Curse of Cornelius Sigan Sep 19, 2009
- E2 The Once and Future Queen Sep 26, 2009
- E3 The Nightmare Begins Oct 3, 2009
- E4 Lancelot and Guinevere Oct 10, 2009
- E5 Beauty and the Beast (1) Oct 24, 2009
- E6 Beauty and the Beast (2) Oct 31, 2009
- E7 The Witchfinder Nov 7, 2009
- E8 The Sins of the Father Nov 14, 2009
- E9 The Lady of the Lake Nov 21, 2009
- E10 Sweet Dreams Nov 28, 2009
- E11 The Witch's Quickening Dec 5, 2009
- E12 The Fires of Idirsholas (1) Dec 12, 2009
- E13 The Last Dragonlord (2) Dec 19, 2009
Season 3 · 13 episodes
- E1 The Tears of Uther Pendragon (1) Sep 11, 2010
- E2 The Tears of Uther Pendragon (2) Sep 18, 2010
- E3 Goblin's Gold Sep 25, 2010
- E4 Gwaine Oct 2, 2010
- E5 The Crystal Cave Oct 9, 2010
- E6 The Changeling Oct 16, 2010
- E7 The Castle of Fyrien Oct 23, 2010
- E8 The Eye of the Phoenix Oct 30, 2010
- E9 Love in the Time of Dragons Nov 6, 2010
- E10 Queen of Hearts Nov 13, 2010
- E11 The Sorcerer's Shadow Nov 20, 2010
- E12 The Coming of Arthur (1) Nov 27, 2010
- E13 The Coming of Arthur (2) Dec 4, 2010
Season 4 · 13 episodes
- E1 The Darkest Hour (1) Oct 1, 2011
- E2 The Darkest Hour (2) Oct 8, 2011
- E3 The Wicked Day Oct 15, 2011
- E4 Aithusa Oct 22, 2011
- E5 His Father's Son Oct 29, 2011
- E6 A Servant of Two Masters Nov 5, 2011
- E7 The Secret Sharer Nov 12, 2011
- E8 Lamia Nov 19, 2011
- E9 Lancelot du Lac Nov 26, 2011
- E10 A Herald of the New Age Dec 3, 2011
- E11 The Hunter's Heart Dec 10, 2011
- E12 The Sword in the Stone (1) Dec 17, 2011
- E13 The Sword in the Stone (2) Dec 24, 2011
Season 5 · 13 episodes
- E1 Arthur's Bane (1) Oct 6, 2012
- E2 Arthur's Bane (2) Oct 13, 2012
- E3 The Death Song of Uther Pendragon Oct 20, 2012
- E4 Another's Sorrow Oct 27, 2012
- E5 The Disir Nov 3, 2012
- E6 The Dark Tower Nov 10, 2012
- E7 A Lesson in Vengeance Nov 17, 2012
- E8 The Hollow Queen Nov 24, 2012
- E9 With All My Heart Dec 1, 2012
- E10 The Kindness of Strangers Dec 8, 2012
- E11 The Drawing of the Dark Dec 15, 2012
- E12 The Diamond of the Day (1) Dec 22, 2012
- E13 The Diamond of the Day (2) Dec 24, 2012
Frequently asked questions
Who is the protagonist?
The protagonist is a young warlock named Merlin.
What is Merlin's role in Camelot?
Merlin serves as a manservant to Prince Arthur.
Is magic allowed in the kingdom?
No, magic is punishable by death in the kingdom of Camelot.
Who are Merlin's parents?
Merlin is the son of Hunith and Balinor.
What is another name for Merlin?
Merlin is also referred to as Emrys.